ADIFF Upcoming Irish Releases Part Two

Known for promoting Irish and international films alike, the Dublin International Film Festival provided us with some stand out films this year. We’ve already introduced you to some of the films featured at this year’s festival but what else is being released soon? Here is Part Two of what to look out for.

Mammal – Released April 1st

Rebecca Daly’s Mammal is an Irish film that featured in Sundance and ADIFF this year. Margaret’s (Rachel Griffiths) lonely routine is disrupted when she learns that her 18 year old son (that she abandoned as a baby) has died. A homeless teen called Joe (Barry Keoghan) comes into her life and she invites him into her home and treats him as a substitute for the son she lost/never had. As Margaret copes with the volatile nature and grief of her ex-husband, her own grief begins to affect her relationship with Joe and blur the lines between motherly affection and a far more carnal nature of intimacy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHkmvBHCiH4

Son of Saul – Released April 29th

Son of Saul is the Hungarian made film that won Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars and numerous awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by László Nemes and co-written by Nemes and Clara Royer, Son of Saul is set in Auschwitz during World War 2. It follows a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, Saul Ausländer (Géza Röhrig), who is forced to assist in the grisly day-to-day management of the exterminations. When he discovers a young boy who has miraculously (and fleetingly) survived the gas chamber, he goes in search of a Rabbi in order to give the boy a proper burial. His search, however, puts the escape plan hatched by his fellow inmates and his own life in jeopardy.

Demolition – Released April 29th

New York investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles after losing his wife in a car crash. He appears numb to the loss and more preoccupied with his inability to get a candy bar from the hospital vending machine. He begins sending letters of complaint to the vending machine company which turn into a series of letters that become more personal. Those letters are answered by customer service rep Karen (Naomi Watts) who feels a connection to Davis and his letters and with her help, he begins to rebuild his life starting with the demolition of his former one. Written by Brian Sipe and directed by Dallas Buyers Club’s Jean-Marc Vallée, Demolition showcases some great performances and an insight into how people cope with death.

Mustang – Released May 13th

Nominated alongside Son of Saul at this year’s Oscars and winner of the Europa Cinemas Label award at Cannes, Mustang is a Turkish film directed by Deniz Gamez Ergüven. Set in a remote Turkish village, Mustang depicts the life of five young orphaned sisters and the challenges they face as women growing up in a conservative society. They are raised by their grandmother, aunt and temperamental uncle whose main concern is the state of the girls’ hymens. After a seemingly innocent incident at the beach, the girls are thrown into a world of arranged marriages, bars on windows, unplugged telephones and brown shapeless gowns which are all they are allowed wear when men are present. The film has had comparisons made to The Virgin Suicides and the event that triggers the family backlash is apparently based on the director’s personal experience.

Green Room – Released May 13th

Written and directed by Jeremy Saulinier, Green Room stars Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots and Patrick Stewart in this cult classic in the making. The film depicts a desperate punk band called the Ain’t Rights who reluctantly take a replacement gig in a secluded area of Oregon. The venue is run by white supremacists and the band decide to begin their set with Dead Kennedys cover “Nazi Punks F*@k Off” which as you can imagine, their skinhead audience “love”. As they are trying to leave the venue, they witness the murder of a young girl in the green room. They barricade themselves inside with the girl’s friend as they fear for their own lives. As they attempt to figure out what to do and how to escape, the gang calls their head honcho Darcy who quickly decides how to eliminate all the witnesses to the crime. Green Room is full of twists, turns, and gruesome scenes and lead me to utter the sentence “Patrick Stewart stars as white supremacist gang leader”. What more could you want?

Viva – No Release Date Yet

Viva is a phenomenal Irish drama based in Cuba by director Paddy Breathnach and written by Mark O’Halloran. 18 year old Jesus (Héctor Medina) lives in a rundown apartment in Havana where he cuts his neighbours hair and preps the wigs for the performers at the local drag club. Drawn towards the glamour, Jesus finds his way onto the stage with a little help from the drag club’s owner Mama (Luis Alberto García). After adopting the stage name “Viva”, Jesus soon becomes one of the club’s top performers. His father, who disapproves of his son’s new profession, suddenly reappears in his life and forbids him from working in the club. Jesus must find a way to make ends meet which in Havana, is easier said than done. Viva was this year’s winner of the ADIFF Audience Award and we all patiently await its release in Irish cinemas.

Well that’s the end of Part Two folks, and brings you right up to May with upcoming Irish releases of films featured in ADIFF 2016. What were your highlights of the festival? Have you seen any of these films yet? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments what you think.

Geek Ireland Chief of Operations, Film and TV enthusiast who is a Disnerd in every sense of the word: Animation, Pixar, Live action, Marvel and especially, Lucasfilm lover. Also be warned - don't talk to her before she's had at least 1 cup of tea....for your own safety.